Multifunction vehicular seat

ABSTRACT

A multi-function vehicular seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back which are pivotably attached. A lockable rotatable mounting link supports the front portion of the seat cushion, and a lockable longitudinally slidable pivot mount is connected with the bottom of the seat back. A lower portion of the seat back functions as a link between the longitudinally slidable pivot mount and the seat cushion, with the result being that the seat functions as a four bar link to allow not only translational repositioning of the seat but also a fold flat function, a recliner function, and forward translational and rotational folding sufficient to allow ingress and egress to and from a position behind the seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a seat for use in a vehicle. Thisinventive seat is said to multi-functional because it may be used notonly as a translationally movable upright seat, but also as a recliner.And, it may be folded forward to allow ingress and egress to portions ofthe vehicle behind the location of the seat.

2. Disclosure Information

The second and third rows of seats in vehicles such as sport utilityvehicles, minivans, and crossover vehicles work best if they aremulti-functional. Such second and third row seats are typicallyconfigured to fold flat to increase cargo carrying capability. Also, thesecond row of seats must fold so as to allow access to the third row ofseats and, perhaps, to the space extending behind the third row ofseats. Automotive designers have incorporated a number of differentmechanisms to accomplish these desired multi-functions. Such mechanismshave, however, been complicated and, in many cases, counterintuitive forthe vehicle operator. U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,684 discloses a seat mechanismwhich is quite complicated in its operation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,670,although less complicated, is not adaptable to a flat floored vehicle.

A multi-function vehicular seat according to the present inventionsolves problems associated with known seats by providing a costeffective and easily employed mechanism in a seat which is movabletranslationally, which may be folded flat, which may be reclined, andwhich may be moved to allow ingress or egress to seating rows and/orstorage space behind the location at which the seat is mounted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multi-function vehicular seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back.A rotatable mounting link supports the front portion of the seatcushion. A longitudinally slidable pivot mount is connected to thebottom of the seat back, and a pivotable connection extends between arear portion of the seat cushion and a portion of the seat back locatedabove the bottom of the seat back, such that a lower portion of the seatback functions as a link between the longitudinally slidable pivot mountand the seat cushion. The rotatable mounting link preferably includes anupper end pivoted to the front portion of the seat cushion and a lowerend pivoted to a bracket for mounting to a floor, with the lower endbeing selectively lockable. The longitudinally slidable pivot mount islockable both rotationally and translationally.

The present seat is movable to a flat, folded configuration by unlockingboth the lower end pivot and the pivot portion of the longitudinallyslidable pivot mount, and by rotating the seat back forward, whilerotating the rotatable mounting link and seat cushion in a forwarddirection until the seat back is superimposed upon the seat cushion.Alternatively, the seat may be moved to a flat, folded configuration byunlocking both the lower end pivot of the rotatable mounting link andthe pivot portion of the longitudinally slidable pivot mount, and byrotating the seat back forward while rotating the rotatable mountinglink in a rearward direction until the seat back is superimposed uponthe seat cushion.

The present seat is movable translationally by unlocking both the lowerend pivot of the rotatable mounting link and the slide function of thelongitudinally slidable pivot mount, while leaving the pivot portion ofthe longitudinally slidable pivot mount locked.

The present seat is movable to an ingress/egress position by unlockingthe lower end pivot of the rotatable mounting link and the pivotfunction of the longitudinally slidable pivot mount, as well as theslide function of the longitudinal slidable mount, so as to permit theseat back to be moved forward both rotationally and translationally asthe seat cushion moves forward.

It is an advantage of a seat according to the present invention thatmulti-functional attributes such as the ability to fold the seat flat,the ability to recline the seat back, and the ability to rotate the seatforward to allow access to an area behind the seat, are all available inthe context of a seat mechanism which is less costly and lesscomplicated than known designs.

It is another advantage of a seat system according to the presentinvention that operation of the seat is intuitive and easilyaccomplished by a vehicle operator.

Other advantages, as well as features and objects of the presentinvention, will become apparent to the reader of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a seat according to the present inventionshown in an upright locked position.

FIG. 2 illustrates translational movement of the seat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the seat of the present invention moving from anupright position to a folded flat position.

FIG. 4 shows the seat of the present invention moved forward and foldedto allow ingress and egress to a position behind the seat.

FIG. 5 illustrates the present seat moving into a recliningconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, seat 10 has seat cushion 14 and seat back 18. Frontend 14 a of seat cushion 14 is supported by rotatable mounting link 22which has upper pivot 26 at upper end 22 a and a lockable lower pivot,30, at lower end 22 b. Rotatable mounting link 22 also has a bracket 34,which is attached to lower end 22 by means of lockable pivot 30. Thelocking of pivot 30 is controlled by means of locking lever 38, usingeither a cam lock or other type of lock known to those skilled in theart and suggested by this disclosure. The important thing is thatlocking lever 38 allows rotatable mounting link 22 to pivot aboutlockable lower pivot 30 selectively.

Pivot 58 serves as the sole connection between seat back 18 and seatcushion 14. Pivot 58 is not lockable. Lower portion 18 b of seat back 18extends between pivot 58 and lockable pivot 50. Longitudinally slidablepivot mount 40 extends between lockable pivot 50 and track 46, which isadapted for mounting to a vehicle floor or other surface to which seat10 is being attached. Longitudinally slidable pivot mount 40 slides inslot 48 which is provided in track 46. The sliding action of slidablepivot mount 40 is controlled by means of locking lever 42. Similarlywith lockable lower pivot 30, lockable pivot 50 is lockable by means oflocking lever 54.

It may easily be seen from FIG. 1 that longitudinally slidable pivotmount 40 and pivot 58 cause the portion of seat back 18 which is marked18 b, and which is located above the bottom of seat back 18 and belowpivot 58, to function as a link between mount 40 and seat cushion 14.

In essence, the present multi-function seat is adapted to be installedin a vehicle as a lever-adjustable four bar linkage. The first link isembodied as a seat cushion support, namely rotatable mounting link 22,extending between a front portion of seat cushion 14 downwardly tomounting bracket 34. The second link is seat cushion 14 itself. A thirdlink is that portion of seat back 18 extending from a rear portion ofseat cushion 14, which is shown at 14 b, downwardly to longitudinallyslidable rear mount 40. The fourth link is constituted when two mountingbrackets 34 and 40, including track 46, are mounted to a single surface.In this configuration, at least a portion of seat back 18, labeled 18 aand extending above seat cushion 14, functions as a lever arm foradjusting the position of seat 10. As described more fully below, seat10 has at least a first operating position in which seat back 18 andseat back 14 are in the raised position shown in FIG. 1, and a secondoperating position, shown in FIG. 3, in which seat back 18 and seatcushion 14 are in lowered positions, such that seat back 18 is generallyhorizontal and superimposed upon seat cushion 14. These positions aremade possible by the lockability of lockable lower pivot 30 of rotatablemounting link 22 and lockable pivot 50 located at the lower end of seatback 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates the fore and aft adjustability of the present seat.Lockable lower pivot 30 is unlocked, allowing rotatable mounting link 22to rotate forward and rearward as seat 10 is moved translationally.Pivot 50 remains locked, but locking lever 42 is actuated to allowslidable pivot mount 40 to move translationally on track 46.

FIG. 3 illustrates a fold flat function of the present seat. To achievethis configuration, lockable lower pivot 30 is unlocked, as is pivot 50,while the slide lock of mount 40 is maintained in a locked position.Then, seat back 18 is rotated forward, causing rotatable mounting link22 to also rotate forward as seat cushion 14 moves forward, therebylowering seat cushion 14 to a grounded position, while superimposingseat back 18 upon seat cushion 14. As an alternative fold flat position,rotatable mounting link 22 may be rotated in a rearward direction firstbefore seat back 18 is rotated flat upon seat cushion 14.

FIG. 4 illustrates an ingress/egress position of seat 10, in which bothlocking pivots 30 and 50 are unlocked, as is slidable mount 40, suchthat entirety of seat 10 may be pushed forward as far as possible, withseat back 18 being rotated forward as far as possible, with the resultthat seat cushion 14 and rotatable mounting link 22 become roughlyparallel.

FIG. 5 illustrates a reclining function in which both pivots 30 and 50are unlocked, but slidable pivot mount 40 is maintained in a lockedposition, such that seat back 18 may be rotated rearwardly, causingsimultaneous rotation of rotatable mounting link 22, with the resultthat seat back 18 moves to a less vertical position, accompanied byminor lowering of seat cushion 14.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the inventionbe limited only in terms of the appended claims.

1. A multifunction vehicular seat, comprising: a seat cushion; arotatable seat cushion mounting link supporting a front portion of saidseat cushion; a seat back; a longitudinally slidable pivot mountconnected to the bottom of said seat back; and a pivotable connectionextending between a rear portion of said seat cushion and a portion ofsaid seat back located above the bottom of the seatback, such that alower portion of the seatback functions as a link between saidlongitudinally slidable pivot mount and said seat cushion.
 2. Amultifunction seat according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable seatcushion mounting link comprises an upper end pivoted to the frontportion of the seat cushion, and a lower end having a bracket formounting to a floor, wherein said lower end pivot is selectivelylockable.
 3. A multifunction seat according to claim 2, wherein saidlongitudinally slidable pivot mount is lockable both rotationally andtranslationally.
 4. A multifunction seat according to claim 3, whereinsaid seat is movable to a flat, folded configuration by unlocking bothsaid lower end pivot and the pivot function of said longitudinallyslidable pivot mount, and by rotating said seat back forward, whilerotating said rotatable seat cushion mounting link in a forwarddirection, said until said seat back is superimposed upon said seatcushion.
 5. A multifunction seat according to claim 3, wherein said seatis movable to a flat, folded configuration by unlocking both said lowerend pivot and the pivot function of said longitudinally slidable pivotmount, and by rotating said seat back forward, while rotating rotatableseat cushion mounting link in a rearward direction, said until said seatback is superimposed upon said seat cushion.
 6. A multifunction seataccording to claim 3, wherein said seat is movable translationally byunlocking both said lower end pivot and the slide function of saidlongitudinally slidable pivot mount.
 7. A multifunction seat accordingto claim 3, wherein said seat is movable to an ingress/egress positionby unlocking both said lower end pivot and the pivot function of saidlongitudinally slidable pivot mount, as well as the slide function ofsaid longitudinally slidable pivot mount, so as to permit said seatbackto be moved forward both rotationally and translationally as said seatcushion moves forward.
 8. A multifunction seat according to claim 3,wherein said seat is movable to a reclined position by unlocking thepivot function of said longitudinally slidable pivot mount, as well asthe slide function of said longitudinally slidable pivot mount, so as topermit an upper portion of said seat back to be moved rearwardrotationally as said slidable pivot mount and a lower portion of saidseat back move forward.
 9. A multifunction seat adapted to be installedin a vehicle as a lever-adjustable, four bar linkage, comprising: afirst link, comprising a seat cushion support extending from a frontportion of a seat cushion downwardly to a forward mounting bracket; asecond link, comprising said seat cushion; a third link, comprising aportion of a seat back extending from a rear portion of said seatcushion downwardly to a longitudinally slidable rear mounting bracket;and a fourth link, which is constituted when said forward mountingbracket and said rear mounting bracket are in contact with a singlesurface.
 10. A multifunction seat according to claim 9, wherein at leasta portion of said seat back extending above said seat cushion functionsas a lever arm for adjusting the position of said seat.
 11. Amultifunction seat according to claim 9, wherein said seat has at leasta first operating position in which said seat back and said seat cushionare in raised positions, and a second operating position in which saidseat back and said seat cushion are in lowered positions, such that saidseat back is generally horizontal and superimposed upon said seatcushion.
 12. A multifunction seat according to claim 9, wherein a jointbetween said first link and said forward mounting bracket is lockable.13. A multifunction seat according to claim 9, wherein a joint betweensaid third link and said longitudinally slidable rear mounting bracketis lockable.